Page 94 of Never and Always
“Yes, they’ve stayed on track the few days you were away.” Ro was huddled in a long, navy-blue overcoat that I guessed probably cost a lot of money.
I was rugged up in my favorite fleece-lined jacket with a tattered woolen scarf. It was snowing steadily today. We were both standing inside the construction tent, inspecting where the team had already laid the concrete foundation for the day spa. Nearby, the hole for the pool was already completed and they were spraying in concrete. I knew they were using chemical accelerators to speed up the setting time. They’d start framing out the walls in the spa soon.
“How’s Piper?” Ro asked.
“She’s okay.” She’d been torn about leaving her mom and grandmother, and getting back to work. We’d spent a few days with her family. I’d kept busy fixing a few things around the house—a loose railing on the porch, hanging some pictures for Penelope, a broken cabinet door in the kitchen. Gram had watched me work, lamenting that it was too cold for me to takeoff my shirt. She had a saucy sense of humor, and I’d fallen in love with her.
Piper had been relieved that her gram was doing better. We’d gotten back to Windward late last night.
“She’s worried about her grandmother, worried about Chance. Worried Chance’s problems will spill onto them.” I looked away from the construction. “Any word on Ellis or Corvo?”
Ro lifted his chin. “Chance was spotted in town, trying to get a seat at another card game. He was knocked back, but the owner called Caden. By the time he got there, Chance was long gone.”
Dammit.
“Seems he’s gone to ground.” Ro’s face hardened. “No sign of Corvo, but no word that he’s gone back to Las Vegas. As far as we know, he’s still searching for Chance.”
“It’s all going to come to a head soon,” I murmured.
“It is.”
As long as Piper was safe, that was the main thing I cared about.
Ro and I headed back inside and parted ways. I checked in with my team and helped with an electrical job in the kitchen. Chef Harden and his team had been doing lunch prep. Whenever he barked, they leaped into action.
I was passing through the lobby, toolbox in hand, when I spotted Piper. She was striding along on another set of nude heels that showed off her legs and reading from a file in her hand.
“You should be watching where you’re going, big city.”
She lifted her head and smiled.
My chest tightened. Just days ago, it would have been a scowl, which I’d liked as well, but I really enjoyed the smile.
“Hi.” Her gaze dropped to the toolbox. “Busy?”
“Always. You? Been talking with Rio de Janeiro or Singapore?”
Her lips twitched. “No, I’m going over some orders for things for the spa.”
“I just checked the construction earlier with Ro. It’s coming along. The concrete is down.” I moved closer, pulling in the scent of her perfume.
She glanced at the staff at the reception desk.
I lowered my head.
She pressed a hand to my chest, but her gaze was locked on my mouth. “Murray, you know how hotel staff love to gossip.”
My lips quirked. “You don’t think me sleeping in your suite and dropping everything to fly to Chicago with you hasn’t done the rounds?”
Her nose wrinkled.
“Do you care?”
“Not really.”
“Good.”
She arched a brow. “Fine, so kiss me already.”
